A new wave of speculation has recently emerged, centred around the upcoming game Pokemon Champions. Officially announced on Pokemon Day (February 27, 2025), this spin-off title guarantees to offer a competitive gameplay experience like in the mainline series. Designed for Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms (iOS and Android), it enables players to compete in battles incorporating the classic Types, Abilities, and Moves.A new rumor has now surfaced, highlighting potential features and modes of play prior to release. While these rumors are not official reveals, they still give players a general idea of what they can expect.Latest Pokemon Champions rumor: General breakdownBased on a Twitter rumor by @HiddenPowerPod, Pokemon Champions will be a huge addition to the series. They claimed that the title will be globally available on January 23, 2026, and will be a free game, playable on both Nintendo Switch versions (Switch 1 and Switch 2), iOS, and Android devices. Approximately 350 Pokemon are speculated to be featured at launch, with additional ones scheduled to arrive in future seasonal updates.The game is said to have Pokemon HOME integration available from the beginning, allowing for easy transfers of your inventory. Battles will be very similar to the mainline games, featuring Mega Evolutions and Terastallization mechanics. Three core battle modes are expected to be available: Ranked, Casual, and Private upon releaseAlso read: Pokemon Legends Z-A trailer breakdownLatest Pokemon Champions rumor: Battle Modes and challengesPokemon Champion battles as revealed in the recent trailer (Image via The Pokemon Company)A Battle Frontier-type mode with a progressive level of difficulty may also be seen. Opposing Pokemon will increase in level as you win challenges, and players may experience special rules in certain forms. For example, one rumored challenge replicates a Nuzlocke-style mode: when a Pokémon faints, it cannot be used again until you've achieved a specific milestone.Healing is only permitted after achieving ten consecutive victories, the 10th battle being against a Gym Leader or notable NPC, who will be different each time.There may also be themed formats such as Dynamax-only battles, type-restricted challenges, and level-capped matches like Level 50 or Level 100 tiers. Rental teams are said to be an available option, but only for Casual, not Ranked.Also read: Pokemon Champions could be the title fans have been waiting for, will be available on Android and iOSLatest Pokemon Champions rumor: A possible competitive shift for the franchiseYour team's storage system (Image via The Pokemon Company)Arguably, the most interesting part of the rumor is that Pokemon Champions will most likely replace Gen 10's VGC format. It is said that there will no longer be a competitive mode in the future mainline Pokemon games.Champions will seemingly become the official competitive environment instead, giving Game Freak and The Pokemon Company the freedom to pour more resources into making future generations bigger and better.Also read: What is Rogue Mega Evolution in Legends Z-A?Latest Pokemon Champions rumor: Rewards, currency, and customizationVP can be seen in the in-game training system revealed in the recent trailer (Image via The Pokemon Company)Pokemon Champions is said to include extensive customization options. According to the rumor, players will gain in-game currency and Victory Points (VP) upon winning battles. These in-game currencies can then be used to purchase cosmetic upgrades, such as stadium skins and costumes for both trainer and Pokemon, whereas VP can be used to purchase functional items such as a healing kit and held items. Interestingly enough, real-money purchases are said to be restricted to only in-game currency.Seasonal play will keep Ranked battles fresh, with 2-3 month-long seasons and changing rulesets to maintain competition lively. Special challenges will also provide unique items unavailable anywhere else.Also read: Legends Z-A might have teased another Gen 1 Mega Evolution